Vehicle body tonneau construction unit



y 19, 1 J. LEDWINKA 1,867,851

VEHICLE BODY TONNEAU CONSTRUCTION UNIT Original Filed Jan. 9, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I NV EN TOR.

July 19, 1932. VJ, LEDWlNKA 1,867,851

VEHICLE BODY TONNEAU CONSTBUCTION UNIT Original Filed Jan. 9. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

BY g E ATTORNEY.

Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STA'EES PATENT QFFEGE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO EDWARD BUDDMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE BODY TONNEA'U CONSTRUCTION UNIT Originalapplication fi1ed January 9, 1926, Serial No. 80,166, and in CanadaJanuary 7, 1927. Divided and this application filed March 25, 1931.Serial No. 525,056.

This invention relates to automobile bodies of closed design, known asthe sedan type, and relates particularly to structures of this typewhich are built up of sheet steel stamped or otherwise formed into thedesired form or contour and ri idly secured together.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 80,166, filedJanuary 9, 1926.

The object of the invention is to provide a closed automobile body whichis at once simple, strong and rugged and which can be easily andeconomically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closed automobile bodyconstruction in which the component stampings used in the completed bodyare joined together to form several major units, which units, as such,are combined and assembled to form the completed body, whereby the costof manufacturing is reduced and the speed of production increased.

A still further object is to provide a body construction wherein thesame may be conveniently and economically shipped from the place ofmanufacture to that of final assembly.

A still further object is the provision of an improved manner ofsecuring the base of the rear body post to the body underframework.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth as shown in the accompanying drawings and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional View of a tonneau unitaccording to the invention.

Figures 2 to 7, inclusive, are detail sectional views, the sectionsbeing taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 1.

In the drawings in which is represented a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the rear or tonneau unit of my improved constructioncomprises side sills 10, a rear sill 11, a D-post 12 and D-post brackets13 all of which constitute the frame for the tonneau paneling,designated generally by numeral the rear of the side windows between thetop of which and the D-post 12 extends the section 16 of the tonneaupaneling. The tonneau paneling 14 is in this case made up of threesections integrally joined together to constitute in efiect a singleunitary panel extending from the rear door post on one side of the reardoor post on the other side of the body.

The side sills 10 are of angle formation and the rear sill 11 offorwardly facing channel formation. They are joined together by asuitable reinforcing bracket 17 and form the lower supporting structurefor the tonneau unit. This lower supporting framework of the tonneauunit is supplemented by theD and E posts indicated at 12 and 15. Thestructure of the D-post is of channel section, see Figs. 2 and 3. Abrace or hinge bracket 18 bridging in vertical direction the lower reardoor hinge is secured to the front wall of the channel of the post andextends rearwardly and downwardly and is anchored by welding to thewheel housing formed partly in the tonneau panel 14 and the post Dbracket 13, as appears clearly in Fig. 1, where the bracket is shownconnected over the joint between tonneau paneling and post D bracket andsecured to each.

The D-post, instead of being erected and welded directly upon the sidesill, is erected and welded directly upon the post D bracket 13. Thetonneau side sill 10 is connected to the body side sill (not shown)through the post D bracket 13 and is of angle cross section as clearlyappears in Figs. 6 and 7, and presents inwardly and upwardly, the lowerbranch being a horizontal inwardly extending flange.

The tonneau paneling 14 is provided along its lower edge with aninturned flange 19 which is in turn secured by welding to the tonneausills l0 and 11. The forward lower corner of the tonneau paneling is cuton a bias as is shown in Fig. 1 for overlapping joinder with the post Dbracket 13.

The E-post 15 is also of channel formation but has its openingpresenting rearwardly. This post extends substantially from the top lineof the window opening downwardly to a point just above the rear sill 11.Instead of connecting the lower end of this E-post 15 to the wheelhousing, as is usually done, in this case the post is connected to therear sill 11 by an interconnecting bracket member 20 of substantiallysimple Z cross section througl out its major portion titted within t iechannel of the E-post and welded thereto in such man ner that the web ofthis bracket 20 extends downwardly and laterally to overlie the topof'the rear sill 11 to which it is rigidly secured as by welding orriveting. This is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The tonneau side and back structure is comprised of the tonneau panelingof the car and is formed in one piece as usual, and secured to thetonneau side sills and rear sills as already described. The forwardertical edges of the tonneau paneling are provided with inturned flanges21 which embrace the forward walls of the D-post 12 (see Fig.

Between the D and E posts the paneling of the tonneau side sectionimmediately adjacent its upper edge 16 which is formed as part of thetonneau side panel stamping is cut away to form a window opening 22. Itsmargins in the sides of the window opening are flanged inwardly overthat part of the window framing constituted by the D and E posts and atthe bottom to form the transverse outer window sill rail 23. Thoseportions which are flanged inwardly over the D and E posts are rabbetedas at 24 and 25 to accommodate the window guide channels. The framing atthe top of the window opening is formed principally by a portion of thetop rail 26 extending between the D and E posts, together with thatportion of the panel 16 extending above the window opening.

The back wall of the tonneau paneling extends upwardly and forwardly toa pointjust beyond the rear vertical line of the side windows, theforward edge thereof being provided with a transversely extending rabbetfor supporting the roof unit. A. rear window opening 27 is provided inthe back of the tonneau panel in the usual manner.

Extending from the D-post on one side of the body to the D-post on theother and constituting the reinforcing member for the lower flange ofthe rear window 2'? is a reinforcing angle 28. Throughout the majorportion of its length this angle member is spaced from the body of thepaneling, thus serving not only as a brace for tying together the sideand rear of the tonneau, but also as means for attaching upholstery inplace. Disposed centrally of the back panel of the tonneau is avertically extending spare tire carrier brace having its upper endsecured to the angle member 28 preferably by welding, and its lower endsecured to the bottom of the rear sill 11. The tonneau unit is completedby the addition of a window regulator panel 30 extending between andsecured to the posts 12 and 15. Immediately below the window opening 22for purposes of strength and for attaching this window regulator panel30 the rear side wall of the channel post 12 is provided with arearwardly ex tending flange 31 as shown in Fig; 3. At the side ofthewindow opening the post I) is converted' into a substantially boXsection structure (see Fig. 2) by telescopically securing a reinforcingchannel 82 within the channel of the post and securing it theretothrough the overlapping side walls.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a pressed metal automobile body, a tonneau assembly including atransversely extending rear sill, a vertically extending rear body postof channel formation presenting rearwardly having its lower endterminating above said rear sill and a bracket member connecting saidlower end of said body post with said rear sill.

2. A pressed metal automobile body construction including a tonneaupanel, a door post secured to the forward vertical edge thereof, abracket at the lower edge of said post, said bracket being formedcomplementally with the lower portion of said tonneau panel, and a hingebracket having a portion thereof secured to said door post and anotherportion thereof overlying adjacent portions of said complementallyformed bracket and tonneau panel.

3. In a pressed metal automobile body construction a transverselyextending rear sill of channel formation presenting forwardly of thebody, a vertically extending body post of channel formation presentingrearwardly of the body, and a bracket member connecting the bottom ofsaid body post with the upper wall of said rear sill, said bracket beingof substantially Z section.

4. In a vehicle body construction, a tonneau panel, a door post securedto the forward vertical edge thereof, a longitudinally widened baseportion secured to the lower end of said post, said base portion and ten1 neau panel being complementally formed with a wheel housingdepression, and a hinge bracket secured to said door post and to thecrown of the wheel housing to brace the door post in the region of thehinge mounting.

lln testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDlVTNKA.

